What is inspiration? What inspires me? How do I use inspiration in my life? After thinking it through for a couple days I know exactly what inspires me. So here it goes. The two things that inspire me the most are music and happiness. Both of these things have brought me to where I am today.

Music. I am sure you are wondering; how does music inspire me? I have multiple ways to explain this, but one particular instance stands out. My freshman year of high school I experienced a weird and emotional breakup. The day after it happened, I found out that one of my main role models and essentially my second mom thought her cancer may have come back. My mom and I drove to the hospital to see her and as we drove a song came on that I will forever be thankful for. Rise Up by Andra Day began to burst through the speakers like a therapeutic symphony. As the song went on, tears rolled down my face and at the time the moment felt like it was the lowest point my life had ever hit. Looking back, I now see that this moment was monumental in my journey through life. This song begins with the lyrics “You’re broken down and tired.” That was me. I was broken down and tired beyond belief. But then like the song says, I rose up.

About six months after I had first heard the song, it was sung at my church. I cried again as I heard the emotional words being sung but this time it wasn’t sad tears. They were happy tears. Tears that symbolized growth. When I heard the song this time I reflected on what all had happened in the time that had passed. In that time, I had grown in many ways. My self confidence had increased, my friends’ cancer had vanished, and I could then say that I was feeling better about my life. I now play this song every day and again at any time that I start to feel down. It immediately reminds me of how far I have come.

The other entity that inspires me throughout life is happiness. I am sure that most people aspire to be happy but for me it is more than that. When I go to do something I normally think, “Will this make me happy?”. I genuinely believe that each action I take should increase my happiness. I do not mean this in a selfish way, I mean this in terms of growth.

There are days where I have cried and to help improve those days I think, “What can I better this situation?”. My pastor once said, “If you want a better life, eat more ice cream.” This is true. Treat yourself. Sometimes you just need to have some strawberry flavored Crank and Boom. Do things that make you happy. These things can be small such as getting a yummy treat, or they can be something greater such as a spontaneous trip to the beach. I am a firm believer that happiness leads to an overall better life. So yes, happiness inspires me to be a better me.

It may have taken me 17 years to figure it out, but I now know that in order to have a life you love you must love yourself first. Both music and happiness inspire me to do so. They help me to improve mentally and physically. They aid in everything I do. So now, I have challenge for you. Reach out and find what inspires you. Use it to better yourself and become the best you that you can be. xoxo, Dash of Pink and Sass

Thank you Professor Davies for pushing me out of my comfort zone this semester and helping me improve in my writing. I owe you.